Villanueva, Stuckey hit key shots as Pistons top Bucks

Saturday, February 9, 2013

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Charlie Villanueva hit a 3-pointer with 9.7 seconds left and Rodney Stuckey sealed the win with two free throws as the Detroit Pistons beat the Milwaukee Bucks 105-100 on Saturday night.

Brandon Jennings, who scored 26 points, took an inbounds pass from Monta Ellis and made a tough fadeaway shot with 47.8 seconds left, but Jose Calderon, who tied his season high with 23 points, came back with a running layup for Detroit that tied it at 100.

After a timeout, the Pistons worked the ball to Villanueva, who got it at the top of the key and swished a 3 with 9.7 seconds left. On the Bucks’ next possession, Jennings fired up a 31-foot 3-point attempt with 3.2 seconds left. Stuckey’s two free throws with 1.6 seconds remaining were the final margin.

Stuckey finished with 19 points, Villanueva 18 and Greg Monroe 14 to lead the Pistons to their third win in four meetings against the Bucks this season. Villanueva also had a season-high 13 rebounds.

It was the second game Detroit was without rookie big man Andre Drummond, who is expected to miss four to six weeks because of a stress fracture in his back suffered in Sunday’s loss to Los Angeles.

Monroe, starting for Drummond, was not as dominating as he was in Detroit’s 119-109 victory over the short-handed San Antonio Spurs on Friday night when he had 26 points and 16 rebounds.

The Bucks were without Larry Sanders, the NBA leader in blocks.

Neither team got more than a three-point lead in the fourth.

Jennings’ two free throws put the Bucks up 98-96 with 1:45 left, but Villanueva answered with a short hook to tie the score. Dunleavy missed on a runner in the lane on the Bucks’ next possession. The Pistons immediately called timeout with 1:02 to go, but Villanueva threw the ball away looking to pass.

Jennings then made his big shot with 47.8 seconds left, but Calderon tied it and set the stage for his clutch basket.

The Bucks opened the third with a 16-5 run capped by Jennings’ steal and layup that gave the Bucks their biggest lead 72-62 at 6:13. Detroit fought right back a 19-10 run keyed by Stuckey’s eight points. His two free throws pulled Detroit to 82-81 heading into the fourth.

Milwaukee made it a close game in the second quarter, but couldn’t pull away as the Pistons dominated the paint with 34 points to 18 for the Bucks. Detroit also ran off 16 fastbreak points to five for Milwaukee.

The Bucks erased the Pistons’ 33-22 first-quarter lead and went ahead 56-55 on Ilyasova’s 3-pointer with under a minute to play in the half. Kyle Singler answered for Detroit with a jumper from in close that gave the Pistons a 57-56 lead after two quarters.

Calderon and Monroe had 21 points combined in the Pistons’ 33-22 first quarter.

Calderon scored 11 points and had four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Monroe added 10 points, grabbed five rebounds and made three steals. Detroit’s defense hounded the Bucks, forcing eight turnovers and converting them into 14 points. Their offense ran off 16 fastbreak points to none for Milwaukee.

NOTES: Detroit shot 60 percent in the first quarter, making 15 of 25 shots. Milwaukee made eight of 23 attempts for 34.8 percent. ... Sanders missed his second consecutive game with a lower back contusion. He landed on his tailbone late in the game with the Denver Nuggets. He is day-to-day. ... Bucks G/F Marquis Daniels missed the game due to a family matter. .... Bucks F Luc Mbah a Moute returned after missing one game with a sore right knee.